Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-12-24

impossible The few powders that had
marked the summer ford at Simpsons Cross
ing were obliterated by q vast sheet of water
stretching to the foothills. The up stage was
stopped at Grangers; the last mail had been
abandoned In the tules, the rider swimming
for his life "An area" remarked The Sierra
Avalanche, with pensive local pride, 'as
large as the state of Massachusetts, Is now
under water
Nor was the weather any better in the foot
hills tThe mud lay deep on the mountain
road wagons that neither physical force nor
moral objurgation could move from the evil
ways into which they had fallen encountered
the track, and the way to Simpsons Bar was
indicated by broken down teams and hard
swearing. And farther ON, cut off and mac
cessible, rained upon and bedraggled, srnitten
by Ugh winds and threatened by high water,
Simpsons Bar, on the eve Of Christmas day,
1862, clung like q swallows nest to the rocky
entablaturs and splintered capitals of Table
mountain, and shook In the blast.
As night shut down on the settlement a
few lights cleaned through the mist from the
windows of cabins on either side of the high
way how crossed and quilted by lawless
streams and swept by marauding winds.
Happily most of the population were gath
cred at Thompson's store, clustered around
red hot stove, at which they silently spat in
pme accepted sense Of social communion
chat, perhaps, rendered conversation unnec-
essary. indeed most methods of diversion
had long since been exhausted at Simpsons
Bar; high water had suspended the regular
occupations OH gulch and on river, and q con-
seQuent lack of money and whisky had taken
the zest from most illegitimate recreation.
Even Mr. Hamlin was fain to leave the Bar
with $50 in his pocket-the only amount
actually realized of the large sums won by
him in the successful exercise Of his arduous
profession. "Ef was asked" he remarked
somewhat later. "ef was asked to pint out
purity little village where retired sport as
didn't care for money could exercise hisself,
frequent and lively, I'd say Simpsons Bar;
but for young man with large family de-
pending ON his exertions, it don't pay
As Mr.. Hamljn's family consisted
mainly of female adults, this remark
Is quoted rather to show the breadth Of
his humor than the exact extent of his re-
sponsibility.
Howbeit, the unconscious objects of this
satire sat that evening in the listless apathy
begottep of idleness and lack Of excitement
Even the sudden splashing of hoofs before the
door did not arouse them. Dick Bullen alone
paused in the act Of scraping out his pipe,
and lifted his head, but no one Of the group
indicated any interest in, or recognition Of
the man who entered.
It was figure familiar enough 70 the COM
pany, and known in Simpsons Bar as "The
Old Man" A man of perhaps so years;
grizzled and scant of hair, but still fresh and
youthful of complexion. A face full of ready,
but not very powerful sympathy, with
chameleon like aptitude for taking on the
shade and color Of contiguous moods and feel
ings. He had evidently just left some hilari-
GUS companions, and did not at first notice
the gravity of the group, but slapped the
shoulder of the nearest man jocularly, and
threw himself into O vacant chair.
"Jest heard the best thing out, boysi Ye
niest man in the Bari Wen, Jim was jest
telling the richest yarn about
"Smileys fool, interrupted gloomy
voice.
"A particular skunk" added another
in sepulchral accents
A silence followed these positive statements
The Old Man glanced quickly around the
group Then his face slowly changed.
"Thats SO, !" he said rehectively, after pause,
"certingly sort of skunk and suthin Of a
fool In course" He was silont for mo-
ment as in painful contemplation Of the un-
savoriness and folly Of the unpopular Smiley.
"Dismal weather, amt It'll" he added, now
fully embarked on the current Of prevailing
sentiment mighty rough papers on the
boys, and no show for money this season.
And to-morrow's Christmas"
There was movement among the men at
this announcement, but whether of satisfac-
ton OF disgust was not plain. "Yes," con-
tinued the Old Man in the lugubrious tone
he had, within the last few moments, un-
consciously adopted-"yes Christmas, and
to-night's Christmas eve. Ye see, boys,
kinder thought-that is, sorter had an idee,
jest passin' like, you know-that may be yed
Ill Ike O Coiuo OVoT 70 my uOuso UO-ulgnt
and have sort Of tear round. But sup
pose, now, you wouldn't Don't feel like it,
maybel" he added with anxious sympathy,
peering into the faces of his companions
"Well, don't know" responded Tom
Flynn with some cheerfulness. "P'r'aps we
may. But how about your wife, Old Mani
What does she say to ita"
The Old Man hesitated. His conjugal ex
perience had not been a happy one, and the
fact was known to Simpsons Bar. His first
wife, delicate, pretty little woman, had
suffered keenly and secretly from the jealous
suspicious Of her husband, until one day he
invited the whole Bar to his house to expose
her inhdehty. On arriving, the party found
the shy, petite creature quietly engaged in
her household duties, and retired abashed
and discounted But the sensitive wo-